lastic lumber now provides full deck

VOUR DECKING customers can

I now stack their decks entirely with plastic components-right down to the understructure.

Expanded applications of plastic lumber are running alongside increased demand. Researchers expect use of plastic and composite lumber as building products, especially as decking, to grow more than | 07o annually over the next l0 years. Other industry sources claim the composite decking market has doubled each year since 1995, and predict the market to surpass $350 million by 2005 and $600 million by 2010.

Despite a considerably higher price tag, plastic lumber does offer several advantages over wood.

With supplies tight a year ago, new capacity should help. Trex Co., Winchester, Va., recently opened a plant in Fernley, Nv. U.S. Plastic Lumber, Boca Raton, Fl., hopes to bring a new plant in Fontana, Ca., on line next month (annual capacity 180 million lbs.).

Louisiana-Pacific, Portland, Or., plans to begin production at its first two wood fiber composite decking plants by the end of the third quarter of this year. Products will include solid and hollow planks in addition to railing systems.

Despite a considerably higher price tag, plastic lumber does offer several advantages over wood, including no splinters, no maintenance and improved workability. Yet, plastic has traditionally been sold fbr nonstructural applications. U.S. Plastic Lumber hopes to change that perception. The company has begun adding fiberglass to its formula to produce Carefiee Structural Lumber. well suited for load-bearing applications such as posts, beams and joists used in constructing a deck, says product mgr. Jim Chew.

USPL now boasts that it offbrs the only complete non-wood decking system on the market, since others require the use of pressure treated wood or other load-bearing construction material in the understructure to provide adequate support.

According to Chew, recent BOCA approval that Carefree products comply with national building code requirements opens the door to architects. engineers and contraclors specifying them, in most applications, as alternatives to wood.

Although none of its products are fbr structural applications, Trex Co. has just introduced the last piece of the non-structural puzzle: a rail post. "This new profile, along with our surface planks and rail parts, allows us to sell a complete deck and railing system," says Maureen Murray.

StranDEK. a 50i50 mix of wood and plastic from Hoff Forest Products, Meridian, ld., alleges one advantage over Trex products, which fade to a driftwood gray instead of a natural wood color. "(StranDEK) is more attractive in appearance," says HofT's Doug Budell. "It not only performs, but looks good."

The product is now offered in decking profiles, as well as 2x2 and 2x4 for railings. But don't be surprised to see the line eventually expanded. "We have seven extruders, and fbur or five will always run decking," Budell notes. "But the others may run some experimental things..."